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Australian Universities, India Universities

Maitri Fellowships Program 2026 (Australia–India Research Exchange)

Scholarship
Australia, India
On-site
Published Mar 20, 2026

Overview

Research Fellow

Senior Research Fellow

Description

Research Fellow

Senior Research Fellow

Associate Professor

Principal Research Fellow

(This is a professional research fellowship, not a degree-granting program)

Fellowship Duration

Inward Fellowships: Up to 12 months

Outward Fellowships: Up to 12 months

Two-Way Fellowships: Up to 2 years

Inward Fellowships

Indian researchers seconded to Australian organisations

Duration: Up to 12 months

Outward Fellowships

Australian researchers seconded to Indian organisations

Duration: Up to 12 months

Two-Way Fellowships

One Australian and one Indian Fellow collaborate

Duration: Up to 2 years

Eligibility

Applicant Organisation Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by Australian organisations that:

Have experience in the Australia–India bilateral relationship
Are registered with an ABN
Pass DFAT due diligence requirements
Are not listed on international sanctions lists
Meet criminal, reputational, and compliance checks
Inbound Fellow Eligibility (India → Australia)
Must be an Indian citizen
Must not hold Australian permanent residency
Must hold a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408 – Research Stream)
Ability to participate in CAIR, DFAT, and host-organisation events
Outbound Fellow Eligibility (Australia → India)
Must be an Australian citizen
Must not hold permanent residency in India
Must maintain a valid visa for India
Willing to engage in official fellowship events
Note: Visa support or fast-tracking is not provided by CAIR.

Additional Information

Degree Level

Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Associate Professor
Principal Research Fellow
(This is a professional research fellowship, not a degree-granting program)
Fellowship Duration
Inward Fellowships: Up to 12 months
Outward Fellowships: Up to 12 months
Two-Way Fellowships: Up to 2 years
Inward Fellowships
Indian researchers seconded to Australian organisations
Duration: Up to 12 months
Outward Fellowships
Australian researchers seconded to Indian organisations
Duration: Up to 12 months
Two-Way Fellowships
One Australian and one Indian Fellow collaborate
Duration: Up to 2 years

Available Subjects

Fellows will work on policy-focused research, including but not limited to:

Geostrategic Policy
Geoeconomic Policy
International Relations
Foreign Policy & Diplomacy
Trade & Economic Cooperation
Indo-Pacific Studies
Public Policy & Governance

Benefits

Benefits vary depending on the fellowship agreement but generally include:

Funding provided to Australian host organisations
Support for international research collaboration
Access to high-level policy networks
Opportunities to engage with DFAT and CAIR events
Enhanced global research exposure and institutional partnerships

Eligible Nationalities

Indian Citizens (Inbound Fellowships)
Australian Citizens (Outbound Fellowships)
Note: Permanent residents of the host country are not eligible.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Organisation Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by Australian organisations that:

Have experience in the Australia–India bilateral relationship
Are registered with an ABN
Pass DFAT due diligence requirements
Are not listed on international sanctions lists
Meet criminal, reputational, and compliance checks
Inbound Fellow Eligibility (India → Australia)
Must be an Indian citizen
Must not hold Australian permanent residency
Must hold a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408 – Research Stream)
Ability to participate in CAIR, DFAT, and host-organisation events
Outbound Fellow Eligibility (Australia → India)
Must be an Australian citizen
Must not hold permanent residency in India
Must maintain a valid visa for India
Willing to engage in official fellowship events
Note: Visa support or fast-tracking is not provided by CAIR.

Application Procedure

Follow these steps to apply for the Maitri Fellowships Program:

Eligible Australian organisations prepare the fellowship proposal
Applications open: 16 September
Submit applications via SmartyGrants
Application deadline: 14 January
Selection & due diligence: January–February
Fellowship implementation begins: May
Applications must be submitted through the official SmartyGrants portal.

Important Dates

Applications Open: 16 September
Deadline: 14 January
Selection Period: Jan–Feb
Program Commencement: May

Why Apply For Maitri Fellowships

Strengthen Australia–India research collaboration
Influence policy development at an international level
Build long-term institutional partnerships
Gain exposure to high-impact policy environments
Join a prestigious network of Maitri Fellows

Frequently Asked Questions Faqs

What is the Maitri Fellowships Program? The Maitri Fellowships Program supports senior researchers from Australia and India to undertake policy-focused research exchanges that strengthen bilateral relations.
Who can apply for the Maitri Fellowship? Applications can only be submitted by Australian organisations, while fellows must be Indian or Australian citizens depending on the fellowship stream.
Is the Maitri Fellowship fully funded? Funding is provided to host organisations and generally covers fellowship-related costs, though benefits vary by agreement and fellowship type.

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Funding

Partial Funding

Organization

Australian Universities, India Universities

Degree

Fellowship

Subjects

All Subjects

Nationality

Domestic Students

Country

Australia, India

Source

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